Thousands in the Maldives joined a protest last week, calling on the government to halt what they called anti-Islamic activities, including a plan to allow direct flights to Israel.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of 300,000 Muslims prohibits practicing any other faith.

The protesters want authorities to stop the sale of alcohol in the islands, shut down brothels operating in the guise of massage parlors and demolish monuments gifted by other countries marking a South Asian summit last month because they see them as idols.

More than 3,000 people attended a protest called by the opposition Adhaalat, or Justice, Party and several other groups that accuse President Mohammed Nasheed's government of compromising principles of Islam and called for strict Islamic law.

Tourism business under duress

30th December 2011. See article from haveeru.com.mv

The Maldives government seem to be responding to muslim pressure. The Tourism Ministry has ordered five of Gasim's resorts including Royal Island Resort and Spa, Paradise Island Resort and Spa, Sun Island Resort and Spa, Holiday Island Resort and Spa, and The Heaven Maldives to close down their spas claiming that they were brothels run under the disguise of spas.

However the businesses involved are not pleased about such accusations and have gone to court to challenge the order.

Update: Tourism Trade Unimpressed

31st December 2011. See article from bbc.co.uk

Tourism operators in the Maldives have expressed concern over a government order to shut down all spas and health centres in resorts.

The ban resulted from the government pandering to nutters of the opposition Islamist party who claimed that spas were being used for prostitution.

Tourism is a key foreign exchange earner for the Maldives. The islands are a popular destination for wealthy honeymooners and celebrities.

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry said the ban would harm the economy. It has appealed for a resolution of the issue. Industry sources say that they expect the government eventually to revoke the decision on spas because of the huge revenue earned from the business.

The President's Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told journalists that the government is considering imposing a nationwide ban on alcohol and pork in response to the recent demands made by religious protestors.

Five demands were put forward at the protest organised by the civil society coalition and opposition partiesy.

The demands include removing the SAARC monuments in Addu, condemning UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's comments about Islamic Sharia, not allowing Israeli airlines to operate flights, closing down the spas in Male.

The Government has already made plans to close down health spas on grounds of supposed prostitution.

Zuhair noted that the government will not obstruct any decision made by Addu City Council to remove the SAARC monuments set up in Addu.

The Maldives president has lifted a ban on spas in the upmarket tourist destination after establishing they were not being used for prostitution, as alleged by muslim protesters.

The tourism ministry ordered all massage and beauty treatment centres to close six days ago in response to public demonstrations in the capital against spas organised by the hardline islamic opposition Adhaalath party.

There was a huge demonstration in Male against spas, saying they were brothels, President Mohamed Nasheed said. We had to respect the crowd so we ordered a quality control regarding their use.

Update: Coup

14th February 2012. See article from bbc.co.uk

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was forced to resign at gunpoint by police and army officers in a coup.

The Maldives is currently removing monuments it was given by the South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) when the island hosted its 17th conference in November. This follows a Defend Islam protest against the monuments held on December 23, and calls for the implementation of sharia law.

A magistrate has ordered the removal of monuments gifted by the SAARC nations at the 2011 SAARC Summit Building Bridges held in Addu City.

This week, Addu City Council removed the monument given to the Maldives from Bhutan, which is described as a wooden sign, and which demonstrators have claimed is offensive to Islam.

According to the New Age, Out of the monuments from the SAARC countries, the one given by Pakistan installed in Seenu Atoll, Hithadhoo, which depicts the country's conversion to Islam, became the 'most controversial' as it shows several deities. Just on the eve of unveiling the monument from Pakistan, detailing the Indus valley civilization and a bust of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the country, a group of protesters had knocked it down calling it idolatrous.

According to the Maldivian newspaper Minivan News, state Minister for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Hussein Rasheed had previously said, The Pakistan monument showed how Pakistan became an Islamic country from its Buddhist origins, and that Although the monument does not contradict Islam, it should not be kept there if Maldivian citizens do not want it to be there.

The magistrate identified the monuments as idols of worship used by non-Muslims which could allow for the growth of other religions in the Maldives, according to Minivan News.